Angle forming device



Aug. 14, 1956 J. H. HARRIS 2,758,380

ANGLE FORMING DEVICE Filed Aug. 7, 1953 ANGLE FORNHNG DEVICE Joseph H. Harris, Glenview, ill.

Application August 7, 1953, Serial No. 372,844

9 Claims. (Cl. 33-137) This invention relates to an angle forming device for use principally by masons, carpenters, excavators, and the like when laying out a desired guide line at a given angle with respect to a given base line or wall surface to facilitate the erection of a wall or partition or the excavation for a foundation.

Heretofore in laying out a guide line at a right angle, for example, with respect to a given base line or wall surface, it was customary practice among persons engaged in the building trade to utilize either a large metal square having the legs thereof two to three feet in length, or to use a flexible tape rule and accurately measure the sides of a triangle to form a right angle triangle. The use of the large metal square is objectionable because of the awkwardness and clumsiness associated therewith in the handling and carrying of the square. The second customary practice is also objectionable because of the likelihood of human error in measuring the side of the triangle, particularly where the ground is uneven, and the added time required to make the measurements.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved angle forming device which overcomes the objections, aforementioned, which are associated with the above indicated prior practices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved angle forming device which, When not in use, is small and compact in size and readily capable of being carried in a pocket or tool box.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved angle forming device which materially reduces the possibility of human error and may be effectively used by either a skilled or unskilled worker.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved angle forming device which may be readily used for laying out a guide or desired line at a right angle with respect to either a given base line or a wall surface, is simple and sturdy in construction, and is inexpensive to produce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, an angle forming device is provided for use in determining a right angle with respect to a given base line or surface. The device comprises three corner pieces interconnected together by nonstretchable flexible members to form, in this instance, a right angle triangle, when said flexible members are in a taut condition. When using the device, one of the sides of the triangle forming the right angle therefor is disposed in aligned relation with respect to either a given rectilinear base line or a planar wall surface. Each of the corner pieces is provided with a substantially disc-shaped body having the ends of two of the flexible members connected in spaced relation to the annular periphery of said body. The flexible members, when taut, extend radially from said body. The body is provided with a center aperture for accommodating a nail, when the device is used in conjunction with a given base line States Patent so that the nail and one of the taut flexible members will be arranged in coincident relation with said base line. Extending radially from the annular periphery of the body is an elongated finger, the axis of which is disposed in bisecting relation with respect to the angle formed by one of the flexible members connected to the annular periphery of the body, the center aperture, and the other flexible member. The elongated finger is adapted for use when the measuring device is being used in conjunction with a given wall surface.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be made to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device with the flexible members thereof in taut condition;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of one of the corner pieces shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, partially in section, of one of the connectors use for securing the end of one of the flexible members to the annular periphery of a corner piece.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, an improved angle forming device is shown adapted for use principally by persons engaged in the building trade to lay out a guide line at a given angle with respect to a given base line or wall surface to facilitate, for example, the erection of a Wall or partition to coincide with the location of such a guide line. The device comprises, in this instance, three corner pieces, 10, 11, and 12, and three sections of nonstretchable flexible members 13, 14, and 15 which interconnect said corner pieces to form, in this instance, a right angle triangle having two of the sides thereof of equal length. Each of the corner pieces is of substantially the same construction and therefore only corner piece 10, shown in Fig. 2, will be described in detail.

Corner piece 10 comprises a disc-like center body 16 which, in this instance, is formed of a transparent plastic material, and a ring 17 mounted on and encompassing the annular periphery of body 16. Mounted on the outer periphery of ring 17 and in spaced relation with respect to one another are a pair of connectors 20 which are adapted to secure the corresponding ends of two of the members 13 and 15 to the corner piece 10. The flexible members 13, 14, and 15, in this instance, are shown to be of a chain construction; however, it is to be understood, of course, that the members are not to be so limited but may be formed of any other suitable material which is possessed of nonstretching yet flexible qualities. Members 13 and 15, when in a taut position, have the axes thereof so disposed with respect to one another that they intersect at substantially the center of body member 16. An aperture 18 is formed at the point of intersection of the axes of members 13 and 15, as seen more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The function of the aperture 18 will be discussed hereinafter.

Each of the connectors 20, as seen more clearly in Fig. 4, has the concealed or inner end 21 thereof reduced in size and externally threaded. End 21 is adapted to be threaded into an opening 22 formed in the annular outer periphery of ring 17. The connector piece 20 is provided with a center bore 23 through which the end of member 13 is caused to pass. The end link 13a of chain 13 is slightly larger in size than the diameter of bore 23 and thus prevents the chain from being withdrawn from the connector 20. The inner end of connector bore 23 is flared out a slight amount to provide a seat for end link 13a. In instances where the number of links in a chain segment is unequal thereby making it diflicult to form a true right angle triangle, one or more washers 24 may be employed which embrace the reduced inner end portion of connector 20 and are adapted to limit the extent to which the connector can be threaded into ring 17 and thus compensate for any variation in the lengths of the two members 13 and 15.

The projected axes of members 13 and 15, when the latter are in taut condition, are indicated in body 16 by markings 2S and 26, respectively, which are shown as intersecting one another at center opening 18. In this instance, the markings 25 and 26 are formed by elongated holes drilled radially into body member in from the axes of the threaded openings 22 formed in ring 17. The holes are filled with material of contrasting color. if so desired, however, the markings 25 and 26 might be merely inscribed or scored on the upper surface of body member 16. In corner pieces 11 and 12, the markings 27 and 28 for members 13 and 14, respectively, and markings 26 and 23 for members and 14, respectively, are shown in Fig. l as intersecting one another at substantially a 45 angle. However, in instances where the right angle triangle does not have two sides thereof of equal length, the latter pairs of intersecting markings can intersect one another at other than a 45 angle.

Mounted on the annular periphery of ring 17 for corner piece 10 and extending radially outwardly therefrom is an elongated finger 30 which has the outer or distal end 31 thereof tapered in a manner as shown. The corresponding finger 32, formed on corner pieces 11 and 12, respectively, is considerably longer than finger 30 and the purpose of this length variation in fingers 3t and 32 will become apparent hereinafter. The elongated fingers 30 and 32 formed on corner pieces 10, 11, and 12, respectively, are provided to enable the device to be used when a guide line 34 is to be laid out with respect to the surface 35a of a given wall 35. The tapered surface 31a of the distal end 31 of finger 30 is tangentially aligned with the annular periphery of ring 17 of corner piece 10 and the tapered surface 33a of the distal end 33 of each of the elongated fingers 32 is likewise tangentially disposed with respect to the annular periphery of the ring 17 of each of the corner pieces 11 and 12. Thus, when laying out a guide line with respect to a given wall surface 35a, the tapered surfaces 31a and 33a of fingers 30 and 32, respectively, and the annular peripheries of corner pieces 10 and 12 are brought into abutting relation with respect to surface 35a. The desired line 34 may then be laid out by connecting the tip or distal end 31 of finger 30 formed on corner piece 10 and the distal end 33 of finger 32 of corner piece 11 by the given line 34 or causing the given line 34 to be made coincident to member 13, when the latter is taut.

In instances Where the forming device is to be used in connection with a given line 36, flexible member 15, when in a taut condition, is brought into coincident relation with the given line whereupon the center apertures of corner pieces iii and 12 are likewise aligned on given line 36. A nail 37 is then driven through the center aperture 18 of each of the corner pieces 14 and 12 and into the surface upon which the device is resting so as to retain the corner pieces in their proper positions. The third corner piece 11 is then extended outwardly away from given line 36 until flexible members 13 and 14 assume a taut condition whereupon a spike or nail 37 is positioned within the opening 18 formed in corner piece 11. Flexible member 13 then indicates the positioning of the desired guide line 34.

Thus, it will be seen that an angle forming device has been provided which is adapted to be carried in a pocket or tool kit, when not in use, and is easy to handle by either a skilled or unskilled worker. Furthermore, the device is of simple and sturdy construction, is effective in operation, and is inexpensive to produce.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore,

by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising a plurality of nonstretchable flexible members of given lengths, one of said flexible members, when made taut, being alignable with such a given base line or surface, and a plurality of corner pieces interconnecting said flexible members whereby, upon all of said flexible members being made taut, a planar closed geometric figure of at least three sides is formed; the relative disposition between the flexible member alignable with such a given base line or surface and an adjacent flexible member, when said members are taut, forming the given angle; each corner piece being provided with an outward projection having a substantial outward component thereof parallel to the plane of said geometric figure, said projection lying in a plane which bisects the angle formed between the two taut flexible members connected to said corner piece.

2. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising a plurality of nonstrctchable flexible members of given lengths, one of said flexible members, when made taut, being alignable with such a given base line or surface, a plurality of corner pieces interconnecting said flexible members whereby, upon all of said flexible members being made taut, a planar closed geometric figure of at least three sides is formed, the angle formed between the flexible member, alignable with such a given base line or surface, and an adjacent flexible member, when all of said members are taut, being the given angle; each of said corner pieces including an apertured center portion having an aperture thereof disposed in rectilinear alignment with the axes of the flexible members interconnected by said corner piece, when said flexible members are taut, and an elongated finger extending radially in one direction with respect to said aperture, said finger being disposed in substantially bisecting relation with respect to the angle formed between the interconnected flexible members.

3. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising a plurality of corner pieces interconnected together by a plurality of nonstretchable flexible members of given lengths, said corner pieces and nonstretchable members forming a planar closed geometric figure of at least three sides, when said nonstretchable members are in taut condition; each of said corner pieces including a disc-shaped body having a center aperture formed therein, a connector for each of said nonstretchable members interconnected by said corner pieces and mounted in spaced relation on the annular periphery of said body, and an elongated finger projecting radially from the periphery of said body, said finger being aligned with said center aperture to form an imaginary line which substantially bisects the angle formed by one of the connectors, said center aperture, and the other connector.

4. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising a plurality of corner pieces, and a plurality of nonstretchable flexible members interconnecting said corner pieces, said corner pieces and flexible members, when the latter are in taut condition, forming a planar multi-sided closed geometric figure having one of the sides thereof alignable with such a given base line or surface and the angle formed between said alignable side and an interconnected member being such a given angle; each corner piece being provided with an outward projection having a substantial outward component thereof parallel to the plane of said geometric figure, said projection lying in a plane which bisects the angle formed between the two taut flexible members connected to said corner piece.

5. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising a plurality of corner pieces interconnected together by a plurality of non-stretchable flexible members, said corner pieces and flexible members, when the latter are in taut condition, forming a planar multi-sided geometric figure having one of the sides thereof alignable with such a given base line or surface; each of said corner pieces including a body having two of said flexible members connected thereto at predetermined spaced points on the periphery thereof whereby the axes of said connected members, when the latter are in taut condition, intersect one another at a predetermined location on said body, and an outwardly extending finger mounted on the periphery of said body and disposed substantially equidistant from said points of connection of said flexible members.

6. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising a plurality of corner pieces each provided with an outward projection, said pieces being interconnected together by a plurality of nonstretchable flexible members, said corner pieces and flexible members, when the latter are in taut condition, forming a planar multi-sided closed geometric figure having one of the sides thereof alignable with such a given base line or surface and the angle formed between said alignable side and one of the interconnected members being such a given angle, the point of intersection of the axes of adjacent flexible members, when the latter are in taut condition, on a corner piece interconnecting said flexible members being in substantially the same relative position on all of said corner pieces; said outward projection of each corner piece having a substantial outward component thereof parallel to the plane of said geometric figure, said projection lying in a plane which bisects the angle formed between the taut flexible members connected to said corner piece.

7. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising three corner pieces interconnected to one another by nonstretchable flexible members, which when in taut condition, form a triangle having one of the enclosed angles thereof equal to such a given angle, each of said corner pieces being of substantially the same construction and comprising a disc-like body having two of said flexible members connected in a predetermined spaced relation to the annular periphery of said body, said body being provided with an opening disposed at the point of intersection of the axes of the flexible members connected thereto, when said members are in taut condition, and an elongated finger mounted on said annular B riphery and extending radially outwardly with respect to said body opening, the axis of said finger being disposed in substantially bisecting relation with respect to the angle formed by one of said points of connection of said flexible member, said body opening, and said other point of connection of said flexible members.

8. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising three corner pieces, and three segments of nonstretchable flexible members interconnecting said corner pieces and, when in taut condition, forming a triangle wherein one of the enclosed angles thereof is equal to such a given angle, one of the sides of said triangle forming such a given angle being alignable with such a given base line or surface; each of said corner pieces including a disc-shaped body being provided with a center aperture, an annular ring encompassing said body, a pair of connectors for two of said flexible members mounted in spaced relation on said ring and protruding radially outwardly therefrom, and a radially outwardly extending finger mounted on said ring at a point substantially equidistant from said connectors, said pair of connectors being disposed in one semicircular segment of said ring and said finger being disposed in the other semicircular segment of said ring.

9. A device for forming a given angle with respect to a given base line or surface, said device comprising a plurality of nonstretchable narrow flexible members of given lengths, one of said flexible members, when made taut, being alignable with such a given line or surface, a plurality of corner pieces interconnecting said flexible members whereby, upon all of said flexible members being made taut, a planar closed geometric figure of at least three sides is formed; the width of each corner piece being substantially greater than the width of any of said flexible members, and means removably mounted on the periphery of each corner piece at the points of connections between said corner piece and said flexible members to effect variations in the effective lengths of said members, when in taut relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 759,313 Roe May 10, 1904 884,904 De Lashmutt Apr. 14, 1908 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,273 Great Britain Dec. 4, 1893 

